A video showing the moment a large rat climbing on top of a sleeping commuter whilst he rode the New York subway has become an online hit.

The 13-second clip, posted on Instragram by user Anthony Lin, shows the furry rodent scurrying across the unsuspecting man's body, before he wakes and emits a high-pitched scream in fright. The 31-year-old Lin was riding the 7 train riding from the 34 St-Hudson Yards stop back to Queens around 3am local time on 27 March when he filmed the incident.

Lin told NBC 4 New York, "I had my phone ready to film the rat since it was huge and the fact that is ended up inside the subway. So I see the rat crawl onto the guy, and zoomed in." Lin added that the rat got off at the next station, Times Square.

The video has attracted over 750 comments on the social media platform, with many criticising Lin for not warning the passenger. One commentator stated, "You filmed this human being while a rat climbed on to him and you did nothing. You are the reason why humanity is failing".